Credit disagreement: the future of the high street depends on how we handle retailers’ Covid debt July 19, 2021 It is a commonplace that the pandemic has devastated the economy. The prospects of recovery may be rosier than we had dared imagine, but businesses have suffered grievously, especially those for whom in-person custom, footfall, is vital. One sector which has been hit particularly hard is independent retail. The death of the high street has [...]
Morrisons push ahead with plans to open automated grocery store as ‘pingdemic’ continues to hit supermarkets July 19, 2021 Morrisons are said to be close to unveiling an unmanned pilot store to the public “within months”, as they look to follow Amazon’s lead in modernising the approach to grocery shopping. The store will rely on shoppers to scan their smartphones upon entry before having digital cameras follow their every step in store to check [...]
Ultimate Products to take over Salter and Heston Blumenthal partnership July 15, 2021 Britain’s oldest houseware brand Salter is set to be snapped up by London-listed Ultimate Products as consumers fell back in love with home cooking over lockdown. The deal is expected to be completed by 19 July and will cost Ultimate Products (UP) some £32m in cash. UP, which turned over £115.7m last year, will take [...]
Supermarkets urge shoppers to keep masks on after 19 July July 15, 2021 Supermarkets are urging customers to continue wearing masks even after 19 July, when they will no longer be a legal requirement in England. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that from Monday 19 July, dubbed ‘Freedom Day’, almost all pandemic restrictions will be lifted including the legal requirement to wear masks. Instead the public will [...]
Fancy a Covid jab? Here are all the free walk-in vaccine sites open in London this month July 14, 2021 If you haven’t had a chance to book your Covid-19 vaccination, there are a number of sites accepting walk-ins this July. Anyone over 18 can get their Covid-19 jab in England and those attending sites won’t be required to provide identification, proof of address, or be registered with a GP. If you’re lucky enough to [...]
Retail, hospitality and transport sectors fear staff abuse when mandatory face masks end July 13, 2021 Business leaders in industries that operate in public indoor settings fear staff could come under attack from customers after the government lifts the legal requirement to wear face masks on 19 July. As of next week, businesses can enforce their own policy on masks as they see fit to protect their staff and customers. But [...]
The only way is gin: The Essex firms making world-beating booze July 13, 2021 Essex is establishing a name for itself. Not for Kevin and Sharons but wines and gin. Its legion of winegrowers and distillers have now been joined by Nikki Mendes from Leigh-on-Sea who has founded The Only Way Is Gin. “I set out to create a gin that shouts out proudly about where it’s from: Chelmsford!” [...]
Amazon snaps up Tesco exec Tony Hoggett to run stores worldwide July 9, 2021 Amazon today announced it has appointed Tony Hoggett, formerly one of Tesco’s top executives, to run its physical stores. Joining in January 2022, Hoggett will take on the role of senior vice president of physical stores and report to Dave Clark, chief executive of Amazon’s worldwide consumer business. He will be based in Seattle. Clark [...]
Top Tesco executive Tony Hoggett to step down after 30 years July 9, 2021 One of Tesco’s most senior executives is stepping down after more than three decades at the supermarket. Tony Hoggett joined Tesco in 1990 and has served in a number of top roles in the UK and Asia. He became group chief operating officer in 2018 before being appointed to the newly-created role of chief strategy [...]
Screenshot: Should the UK tech sector really be cashing in its chips? July 9, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Tesco’s football fail **Should the UK tech sector really be cashing in its chips? **A Wise move Media Moment of the Week: Tesco’s football fail Once again the internet was awash with football this week, and plenty of brands decided to jump on the England bandwagon for a [...]